Thread of Suspicion

by Susan Sleeman

  “Is that possible?”

  “Anything’s possible, but I don’t think it’s likely.” She seated her gun in the holster and sat down in the worn vinyl chair. “Make yourself at home while I see what I can find on the computer.”

  Luke headed for a closet in the corner. The door creaked open with an eerie groan as she clicked the mouse to wake up the custom-built machine. As it whirred to life, she took a good look around the room. She noticed a small black object mounted at the ceiling near the door.

  “Is that a camera?” she asked, and got up to take a closer look.

  “Bomb!” Luke shouted, backing out of the closet.

  “It’s not a bomb,” she said, surprised a man whose military training would’ve included munitions could mistake a camera for a bomb.

  “In the closet.” He grabbed her arm. “Run!”

  A bomb? She glanced at the closet to take a look. Before she could see anything, he dragged her from the room and they charged down the hallway.

  “Faster.” He tugged harder on her hand, jerking her feet into high gear.

  Adrenaline coursed through her body, moving her at a speed that she didn’t think she was capable of, but Luke moved even faster. At the back door, he leaped from the stoop, pulling her with him. She lost her balance, and as she staggered and tried to keep her footing, he swept her into his arms.

  He ran. Hard. Fast. Toward the back of the yard. His powerful legs moving at a rapid clip despite her additional weight. She briefly thought to free herself but, not wanting to risk their lives by slowing his rhythm, she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him.

  A deafening explosion thundered through the quiet before a concussive blast pummeled into their bodies. The hot air enveloped them with a whoosh, and Luke stumbled. He danced around trying to stay upright, but a second blast slammed into their backs and forced them to the ground.

  The impact jarred Dani out of his arms. She flew through the air, then bounced and rolled until her head struck concrete, and she came to a jarring halt. Blinding pain seared into her skull, and she gasped from the intensity. As a prayer whispered though her mind, her vision blurred. A dark curtain went over her eyes and she felt herself drawn down a long, dark tunnel. She blinked hard.

  Luke rolled to his knees in a seamless maneuver. He clasped her face between his strong hands. “Don’t leave me, Dani. Please. Stay with me.”

  She wanted to. Wanted to keep gazing up at the man who was somehow becoming a vital part of her life, but darkness beckoned. She fought to keep her eyes from closing, but when the pull of darkness grew too strong, she surrendered.

  NINE

  Luke had never felt panic race up and over his body as intensely as he felt it now. He’d done all he could for Dani by calling 911, and that left him feeling utterly inept.

  “Get a grip,” he whispered. “Remember your training. The creed. Take control. Do the hard thing. The right thing. Keep your emotions in check this time.” He stared at Dani’s pale face and touched her cheek. She was breathing yet unconscious.

  Never had living the creed been so difficult. This wasn’t a civilian laying here where he could easily remain detached. Not even a team member who he’d readily give his life for. It was Dani. Sweet, soft, stubborn Dani. It was time he realized she’d penetrated his defenses, and no matter how much he denied it, he wanted to forget about his lack of income and stability to see where these feelings took him.

  If she pulls through, his mind warned.

  God, please. I know I’ve been distant since Mom and Hannah died and I don’t deserve anything from You. I just couldn’t believe You’d take them like that. Please don’t let Dani die, too.

  He looked around, thinking—hoping—he could find something to help her. Flames shot from the house, the heat brutal. He considered moving her, but movement might make her injuries worse. He placed his body between her and the fire. The heat felt like an inferno, but he tuned it out and took her hand in his. He lifted his head and offered another prayer. God didn’t need another plea to care for Dani, but Luke couldn’t just sit here. He was a man of action, and this was the only action he could take right now.

  Sirens spiraled down the road, and Luke hoped the ambulance arrived before the fire department. Before long, two paramedics pounded toward them. The first one, male. Tall and burly like a linebacker. The second, female. Intense and wiry. They both gave the house a quick perusal, then went straight to work.

  “Tell me what happened.” The male pushed Luke out of the way.

  As additional sirens screamed closer, Luke made quick work of describing the bomb and the way Dani’s head had connected with the concrete. “She’s been unconscious since then.”

  The female probed Dani’s head. She groaned and started moving.

  “She’s coming around,” the man said to his partner. “I’ll get an IV going while you monitor her vitals.”

  She blinked a few times, then her lids fluttered rapidly as if she was trying to remember where she was.

  Had God heard him again? Had He intervened and kept Dani alive? Luke wanted to think so. Life was so much better, easier, when he knew God was on his side.

  Dani moaned and tried to sit up.

  Luke knelt at her head. “It’s okay, Dani. You hit your head. The medics are taking care of you, and I’m right here.”

  Her gaze flitted up to him, and she opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. He wanted to stroke her hair, let her know he cared, but he didn’t want to risk hurting her so he simply kept his gaze locked on hers. As the medics worked, her eyes cleared and she was able to answer their questions. Her voice grew stronger, but Luke couldn’t relax until they pronounced her okay.

  “She’ll need a scan to rule out a serious head injury,” the man said. “I’ll get the gurney.”

  A police officer rounded the corner and stopped the medic to ask questions before marching over to them. Luke filled him in on the situation as a firefighter arrived and assessed the situation. Soon the firefighter and officer called the medic over to discuss moving Dani away from the building.

  Luke didn’t want her to think she was alone, so he scrambled to her side. He couldn’t look at her again while she was as pale as death or he would lose it. He felt her eyes on him as if waiting for him to speak. Instead he stared at the bright flames greedily licking through what had once been the roof, taking him back to the loss of his mother and sister. Not that he’d seen their home on fire since he’d been in Afghanistan at the time, but his worst nightmares were of his mother and sister crying out for help and knowing he hadn’t been there to help them.

  Dani slipped her hand into his. “It isn’t your fault that I got hurt, you know. I owe you my life.”

  “So you’re a mind reader now,” he said, filling his tone with humor as he forced himself to meet her questioning gaze.

  She raised an eyebrow and, for a long moment, studied him. “Doesn’t take a mind reader to see the guilt written all over your face.”

  He didn’t want to share about his family, but he also didn’t want her to think he blamed himself for her injuries when he didn’t. He ached from seeing her hurt, but given the circumstances, he’d done his best to keep her alive.

  “Actually.” He paused to take a breath so he could tell a story he’d never repeated to anyone. “I was thinking about how my mother and oldest sister died in a fire, and I wasn’t there for them.”

  “Oh, Luke,” Dani said, her eyes darkening with his pain. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “If I’d been here instead of Afghanistan, maybe...” He let his words fall off. No point in putting voice to what might have been.

  She squeezed his hand. “You can’t blame yourself for that. You were serving your country.”

  “True, but my reasons for service weren’t altru
istic.” He let go of her hand and clamped his on the back of his neck where muscles screamed from the fall. “My father was career Navy. Ran our house like a drill sergeant. I couldn’t live under his condemnation anymore, so when I graduated from high school I enlisted.” He shook his head. “I didn’t think about the fact that I was trading his orders for other orders. I just had to get away from him.”

  “That’s still not a good reason to blame yourself for the fire.” She reached for his hand and twined her fingers through his.

  He stared at their fingers woven together. Hers as soft as fine silk. His rough from hours hiking in the wilderness and trying to stay active. They were so different yet fit so perfectly together. The warmth penetrated to his core, and he really wanted to let go of this guilt to show her he was strong. To let her know he wasn’t the man his father and Wendy claimed he was.

  The burly paramedic came hustling toward them with the gurney. “Time for transport, Ms. Justice.”

  Thankful for the interruption to process everything he was feeling, Luke moved out of the way. The police officer joined him. “I need your statement.”

  Luke nodded at Dani. “Once she’s on her way to the hospital, I’m all yours.”

  When they’d settled her in place, Luke stepped to the side of the gurney. “I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

  “Think about what I said. You’re not to blame.”

  “Here we go.” The medic bumped the gurney down the driveway.

  Luke followed for a distance and his heart wrenched at seeing her loaded into the ambulance. He wanted to leave now so she didn’t have to be alone at the hospital. He needed to notify her family. She’d get mad—maybe yell at him—but that would be preferable to her being all alone at the hospital. He waited until the door closed, then dug out his phone and dialed.

  “The Justice Agency.” Kat’s strong voice shot through the phone.

  “It’s Luke Baldwin. We met last night at Dani’s place.”

  “Don’t tell me my sister is acting up again.” Kat laughed.

  “Actually, no.” He told her about the accident. “Looks like she’ll be fine, but she’s on her way to the hospital just to be sure.”

  “And let me guess, she doesn’t want us to know anything about it?”

  “We didn’t talk about it. I just thought it was time your family got involved.”

  “You’re a smart man, Luke Baldwin.”

  Right. Then why couldn’t he get over the guilt that his head knew was futile? “I’ll be heading to the hospital after I give the police my statement. Will I see you there?”

  “You can count on it. And Luke—” she paused for a long moment “—prepare yourself to meet the entire Justice clan.”

  * * *

  Four against one. Those odds were doable. Especially for a SEAL. So why did Luke feel outnumbered as he poured a cup of stale coffee in the hospital waiting room?

  He squared his shoulders to portray confidence he didn’t feel, then lowered his aching body onto a vinyl chair. Pain ripped along his nerve endings, but he bit his lip and fought back a grimace. Weakness wasn’t allowed. Ever. And especially not in front of Dani’s tough-as-nails siblings.

  Three men, strapping and imposing. One woman, petite and good-natured, yet after meeting Kat last night, he knew she was as formidable as Dani. Kat was agreeable, but the others filled the room with their unspoken anger at him for involving their sister in this mess and keeping it from them.

  He’d have to win them over. Starting with Dani’s twin brother, Derrick, who glared at him, doubt lingering in eyes identical to Dani’s.

  “Just so you know, Baldwin,” he said, “I won’t agree to take the case of a traitor.”

  “Suspected traitor,” Luke said, putting a thread of steel in his voice.

  “He’s right, Derrick. There’s no proof of his guilt.” Ethan Justice, the oldest of the group and clearly their leader, watched Luke like a cat would eye a mouse. “Yet.”

  Derrick smirked, but Luke wouldn’t let the guy know he was getting to him. He took a long sip of coffee that tasted like the sludge he’d consumed in the Navy and checked out the last brother over the rim.

  Cole Justice had that whole ex-military tough-guy thing going on that Luke was used to dealing with. Maybe that meant Cole would cut him some slack or maybe, as Dani had said, he’d toss Luke to the wolves.

  The group fell silent, tension cutting the air. The E.R. staff had assured them that Dani would be fine, but as he waited to see that for himself, time passed slowly. Finally a nurse entered the room pushing a wheelchair holding Dani. A white gauze bandage circled her head, but her color had returned, as had the spark in her eyes.

  Kat jumped up and went to her sister. “I’m surprised you’re cleared to go home already.”

  “She’s not,” the nurse grumbled. “She’s leaving against doctor’s orders.”

  Dani waved a hand. “I’m fine. My scans were clear and I can rest at home better than I can here.”

  The nurse snorted. “She needs to be watched all night for a concussion.”

  Luke stood. “I’ll do it.”

  Derrick jumped up. “Over my dead body.”

  Luke stepped up to Derrick and glared at him. “I’m happy to oblige if that’s the way you want it.”

  “Stop it,” Dani said loudly, then winced.

  Luke felt like a real heel for acting like a teenage boy on the playground and causing her more pain. Maybe if he got the chance later on he could kick a kitten, too.

  “Could you excuse us a moment?” Ethan said to the nurse as he came to his feet.

  She crossed her arms. “Hospital policy says I have to transport the patient to her vehicle.”

  “It’ll take just a minute and then you can wheel her out.” Ethan smiled, and despite her obvious desire to do the right thing, Ethan’s charm won her over.

  She glanced at her watch. “I’ll be back in five minutes sharp.”

  “Thank you.”

  When she’d disappeared between swinging doors, Ethan started to squat by Dani, but she stood. He cast her an irritated look, but she ignored it.

  “After what happened last night and today,” he said, clutching her arm, “you’ll spend the night at Kat’s place again.”

  “That’s to be expected.” She lifted her chin. “But I won’t be taken off this case no matter what you say or do.”

  “That’s not negotiable, kiddo.” Love for his sister filled Ethan’s tone but still brooked no argument.

  Her chin went ever higher. “I’m not your kiddo anymore. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve grown up and can handle myself as well as any of you.”

  Her siblings stared at her as if seeing her for the first time as a capable adult, but Luke had no problem seeing her that way. That is, when he wasn’t seeing her as a desirable woman whom he wanted to get to know much better.

  Cole pushed to his feet. “I, for one, think we’re wasting time talking about this when we should get out of here and find the creep who hurt her.”

  “I’m all for apprehending this guy,” Derrick said. “But we should discuss the merits of Baldwin’s case in private before we run off half-cocked.”

  “Nothing to discuss.” Cole fisted his hands. “The best way to find her attacker is by taking his case. Since Dani’s the computer expert, she’ll continue to take lead on it.”

  The other siblings looked at Cole, each wearing a look of surprise.

  “What’s the big deal? I don’t believe a SEAL would betray our troops. Plus you all know I’d do anything to help soldiers, and Baldwin’s software is much-needed.” He issued a challenging look and no one spoke. “And there’s nothing in writing that says Ethan’s the only one who can decide our priorities. So, we’re agreed, then?”

  �
�I’m in.” Kat shared a knowing smile with Dani, but Luke was clueless on the meaning.

  Ethan nodded. “Me, too.”

  “Fine,” Derrick said grudgingly, his fiery gaze fixed on Luke. “But if you’re not on the up-and-up, we’ll find out.”

  “We’ll have no problem there.” For the first time since this had all begun, Luke didn’t feel as if he was stranded on a sinking island. “And thank you for agreeing to help.”

  Dani turned her focus to Luke. “I’ll need my computer brought from my house to Kat’s ASAP. I want to get started on tracing this morning’s email and the video feed from the camera I saw in Computer Care.” The sudden zeal in her expression equaled the look he’d seen when he’d first laid eyes on her.

  With her passion for her job, he was relieved to have her on his side and not trying to bring his company down. “So how do you go about tracing something like that?”

  She wrinkled her nose at him. “It depends on so many technical factors that I won’t waste time listing them.”

  “Can’t tell you how thankful we are for that.” Cole mocked a shudder. “The last thing we need is for Dani to start spouting all that computer speak.”

  “So true.” Kat started to laugh.

  “Aw, come on, Kit Kat, Dani’s not so bad.” Ethan paused dramatically. “If you’re deaf.”

  Dani wasn’t bothered by their teasing at all, but she smiled, her full lips tipping up and lighting her face. “They’re not into computers. Except when I use technology to solve their cases and keep them alive.”

  The siblings laughed, lightening the tone in the room and the dire circumstances. He caught their good humor and smiled along with them.

  When the laughter died down, Ethan put a hand on Dani’s shoulder. “I’ll go get the nurse.”

  Dani smiled at Cole. “Thanks for sticking up for me like that.”

  Cole retuned the smile, but Luke could see it was strained. “About time we let our little bird spread her wings and fly.”